Burrell Brutalizes Mets

Once again, Pat Burrell trumped a Mike Piazza home run with one of his own. Burrell`s three-run homer in the eighth capped a four-run inning that lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night.

Just two innings earlier, Piazza hit a two-run homer to pull the Mets even at 3. "The fact that they are the NL champs, I really enjoy coming here," said Burrell, who hit a two-run, 10th-inning homer Monday to beat the Mets 5-3 after Piazza had tied it with a ninth-inning home run. "And now we have a chance to sweep."

Burrell hit reliever Turk Wendell`s 2-0 pitch into the left-field bullpen as the Phillies won for the eighth time in their last nine games. Philadelphia is 13-3 against the NL East, while the Mets dropped 11 games behind the first-place Phillies.

"He`s going to have great success in a lot of places," said Phillies manager Larry Bowa.

Burrell loves Shea Stadium. He hit two key late-inning homers last June 20 and 21. The first tied the score in the ninth as the Phillies won 3-2 in 10 innings. The second was a grand slam in Philadelphia`s 10-5 win.

Omar Daal, who has yet to lose in six decisions this season after going 4-19 last season, allowed five hits and three runs in six innings. The Phillies have now won 10 of Daal`s 11 starts.

"I thought he threw the ball well," said Bowa. "He really made only a couple of bad pitches."

Daal appeared to be coasting to his seventh win until second baseman Marlon Anderson dropped Piazza`s foul pop with two outs in the sixth. Given a second chance, Piazza hit his 13th homer of the season, a two-run shot to tie it at 3.

"When you give a hot hitter like Piazza two at-bats, they`re going to take advantage of it," Bowa said.

Wayne Gomes (4-1) pitched the seventh for the win. Ricky Bottallico and Chris Brock got the final six outs for the Phillies, whose bullpen has the second best ERA in the NL.

Kevin Appier had the Phillies` batters off-balance for most of the night, allowing three runs and four hits over seven innings. He struck out seven, walked two and hit two batters _ both in the second inning.

Dennis Cook (1-1) relieved to start the eighth and allowed a leadoff single to Bobby Abreu. Scott Rolen doubled to left and Abreu scored when Benny Agbayani mishandled the ball in the corner.

Wendell came in after Cook walked Travis Lee and allowed Burrell`s sixth homer of the season.

"Good sliders don`t usually get hit out of the park," said Wendell.

The Mets scored just their 10th first-inning run of the season when Agbayani tripled over the head of center fielder Doug Glanville and scored on Piazza`s groundout.

The Phillies got to Appier in the fourth on an RBI double by Burrell and a run-scoring single by Johnny Estrada. They added a run in the sixth on Lee`s sacrifice fly.

Notes:
Piazza has homered in three straight games, including a game-tying shot in the ninth inning Monday. ... Mets 2B Edgardo Alfonzo left in the fifth inning with a sore back. ... Indy 500 winner Helios Castroneves of Brazil threw out the first pitch. ... Mets opponents have scored 25 runs in the first inning ... In his second start for Triple-A Norfolk, Steve Traschel pitched a seven-inning no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader. He walked three and struck out five. ... The Mets play 13 of their next 15 games on the road. ... Burrell has hit safely in 10 straight games. ... The Colorado Rockies claimed RHP Justin Speier off waivers. The Mets acquired Speier from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later. ... Gomes, who hurt himself while avoiding an errant pickoff throw to second base, was on crutches after the game. He has a strained patella tendon and will likely be placed on the DL.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News